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www.canyoncourier.com
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The mountain area’s newspaper since 1958
est. 1958
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021
NOW SERVING EVERGREEN, CONIFER, BAILEY AND PINE
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Graduations like no other
Members of the Evergreen High School class of 2021 walk down the stairs at Red Rocks Amphitheatre at the start of the graduation ceremony on May 20.
Conifer High School principal Wesley Paxton introduces graduates Adelaine Hollander and Abigail Sundquist, senior speakers and best friends since kindergarten.
PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST
EHS’ graduating class finds normalcy at Red Rocks commencement BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With a few minor exceptions, Evergreen High School’s graduation on May 20 looked much like graduations of the past — a welcome change from the pandemic-related turmoil and cancellations that plagued the class of 2021. “I cried when I was told we would
go to Red Rocks (Amphitheatre),” EHS valedictorian Abigail Cohen said before commencement began. “With everything we weren’t able to do this year, I was so happy to have Red Rocks for graduation.” EHS has hosted its graduation nearly every year at Red Rocks for at least a decade, though thanks to the pandemic, last year’s graduation was in August at Jeffco Stadium. Cohen told her 245 fellow graduates that the past two years have been the hardest the class has faced, but students created their own connections. SEE EHS GRADS, P16
PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST
CHS’ class of 2021 laughs, cheers to celebrate its milestone BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
There’s nothing like celebrating a major life milestone after a school year that was in the midst of a pandemic — and cheering like you would at a pep assembly. That was the tone of the Conifer High School graduation on the Larry Fitzmaurice Field on May 22
when 215 seniors commemorated their four years at the school. That included some laughs, some tears, some cheers and many thank yous. Each student wore a purple cord signifying resilience. Eric Kragel, the school’s athletic director, had the graduates cheer as if they were in a pep assembly, noting this was the first time during the 2020-21 school year that they were able to loudly and proudly proclaim that they were Conifer Lobo seniors. He had the audience laughing as he reminded them of the year’s trials: masks, one-way hallways, SEE CHS GRADS, P17
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Obits Sheriff’s Calls
2 Retiring 7 Opinions
3 El Rancho 8 Marshdale
5 Long Murder 10 Puzzles
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